Hamilton’s Unemployment Rate Hides Struggles of Working Poor

30,000 working Hamiltonians are still living in poverty, report says

David Galvin was born and raised in Hamilton. With two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Guelph, he spent most of his career working in computer programming and systems analysis. He even taught part time as an instructor at Conestoga College.

But now, the 60-year-old struggles to make end’s meet, bouncing between short-term contract work as a security guard and Employment Insurance.

“There is a tremendous amount of stress, no question,” Galvin said.

“It does impose quite a cognitive burden when you could be using that thought power on more important things like changing your life situation.”